Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans

Comments

This past weekend, Motorweek, the TV show, had a review of the Dodge Ram Van which is a re-badged Freightliner, which is a walkin van designed and built by MB in Germany. It is currently being sold in the US (UPS has bought hundreds of them!) and has a 2.7 liter DIESEL with approx. 165 HP but well over 200 lb-ft of torque. Apparently the emissions standards are different for trucks than for autos which is why we won't see diesels in cars for a while longer.. Sure would make a nice E270 wouldn't it ??

quote microrepair-Apparently the emissions standards are different for trucks than for autos which is why we won't see diesels in cars for a while longer.. Sure would make a nice E270 wouldn't it ?? -end

E320 is a car and it will be available in April of this year in USA from MB with diesel engine.Also, VW has been selling thousands of diesel cars in USA and Canada for years. The TDI VW has been sold in USA and Canada since at least 1996.Yes, emissions standards are different for diesel trucks compared to diesel cars.

Dear MB Owners:I have been having problems with the windshield defogger. I live in Maryland and in low outside temperatures if I turn the climate control ON, all of the windows, windshield and rear included, get badly fogged up. The moisture sometimes is so heavy that I have to stop and hand wipe it. This only happens in low temperatures outside. Keeping the system ON removes very little moisture. I took the car to the dealer and they traced the problem to faulty wiring on the AC compressor. Guess what, it is hitting freezing temperatures again and the problem is back. Any insights into what may be the issue here? Thanks a bunch.

I've heard pricing comparable to the E320 gas. Not the great deal the E300TD was, at $3k+ less than the E320, but I for one wouldn't consider the E320 gas over the E320CDI for the same price.

Question to new "E" owners: how would you rate the quality / reliability of 2003/04 E-class vs. previous generations. I'm a bit skeptical of Mercedes based upon the overall drop in quality that I keep hearing about. Is it overblown or real? After BMW's redesign of the 530i (yuck), the E320 CDI may be the first automatic transmissioned car I will have ever owned. Quite a leap, but I just hope the rest of the car holds up to the same degree as Mercedes legendary diesel engines.

Over the rear seat there is a dome light. 2 of the switches operate the rear reading lamps, and 2 switches don't seem to do anything. I cant find any mention of the rear ceiling light in the manuals. Anyone?

Has anybody but me noticed that when you leave the car for service, or with a valet parking guy at a lot, if you lock the trunk and glove compartment and take the metal key out of the black "Smart Key" to keep with you, and leave the parking attendant with just the black Smart Key, there is no hole left for the attendant to attach a paper key tag to, that will identify the smart key to belonging to any particular Benz he has on the lot... nor can he hang the key up on a key board, because the glove box/trunk key you took with you, has the hole! Shouldn't the plastic Smart Key be smart enough to have a hole molded into it? The only way I see around this is to get a glove box/trunk key that doesn't fit the car and leave it in the Smart Key slot all the time, to utilize its hanging hole. That way you keep the real glove box/trunk on another key ring in your pocket. ??? But that doesn't seem to be "smart"

Have an 03' E500. Last car was 00' E320.I think the issue with decline is not in quality but with reliability. These new cars have alot that can go wrong with electronics.Maybe too much new tech at once. My impression is that many(not all) bugs have been worked out in the last year. With regards to quality I can tell you from my experience that the new design looks,drives and feels better than my last generation E.

I agree with jprescott. I have had 2 E500s, MB replaced the first car because they couldn't install a navigation system. Combined I have put 18k miles on both cars and nothing has gone wrong. There has been a few minor nagging electronic issues, but the overall quality of the car is excellent. I love BMW's but the direction of their styling on the 7 & 5 is awful. The interiors are even worse then the outsides. Also the Benz dealers seem to be very aware of the perception of quality issue and will pretty much do whatever is needed to keep you happy.

After talking to the dealer and consulting with web pages I'm still not sure when it is appropriate to raise the car with air matic. Does this add to comfort even more? Is this only for ground clearance on a rough road or in the snow? Any one have ideas or a web link?

I too had the boot lubricated on several occasions with some temporary improvement. MB then replaced the rack. The moan disappeared initially and then reappeared to a lesser degree, but only in warm weather. I have 2000 E320 4-matic and was told that it is a bigger problem in 4-matic than in RWD. I've never heard of a case where the moan was completely resolved. Good luck

My non-Nav car was replaced for another 2003 E500. I don't know of anyone that recieved a 2004. MB was pretty particular about getting the exchanges done by the end of last summer which was just before the 2004's came out. The whole process was handled well and I feel that MB was very fair in fixing this mistake.

They change the ambient light from the rear assembly. One slowly increases it and the other slowly decreases it. I found this out last night by reaching back over the seat and trying it, thereby hacking off my wife who thinks only Tim the Toolman should do such foolish things.

I was just informed by a friend who is a leasing agent with Mercedes that the European Delivery program was revised two weeks ago to give a 7% discount off MSRP. All information I've seen on the web seems to indicate a 5% discount. Anyone know the answer. That extra $1,000 between 5% and 7% has me thinking European Delivery is worth considering.

Also, I'm considering an E320 CDI assuming it is available late spring or summer through ED. I know the CDI will be "hot" for awhile and little if any price discounting for US delivered vehicles will occur for several months. However, I am wondering what kind of deals/discounts people are now getting on 2004 gasoline E320/E500's? Is it likely that if I wait out the intitial demand for the CDI that I could get 5-7% off MSRP without going to Germany?

Finally, I've seen 2003 E320 sport with 2,500 miles, mint condition advertised in the Washington Post for $42,000 and a very low mileage 2003 E500 advertised a couple of weeks ago for $46,000. These seem like low prices compared to MSRP new. Further suggesting big dicounting on new E's??